Dana White’s Contender Series 2021 Week 5 Play-by-Play & Results

Round 1

Kuniev opens up with an oblique kick to the knee, then an outside
leg kick. Kuniev gets clipped with a short right hand and stumbles
forward. He recovers and the Brazilian tags him again. Kuniev and
Santos both land before tying up. Santos with a hard knee to the
midsection of his heavier opponent. Another knee lands for Santos
before they separate. The Brazilian whips out an outside leg kick,
which is answered by Kuniev. Kuniev forces the clinch against the
cage, but Santos lands another hard knee. Kuniev drives his man
into the fence, but lands a low blow and the action is paused. The
action is reset in the center of the cage due to the foul. Kuniev
looks to close the distance, but he walks into an eye poke from
Santos, and once again time is called by referee Mark Smith. Kuniev
lands a leg kick followed by a push kick. Santos answers with a leg
kick of his own. Kuniev backs his man up and shoves him into the
cage. Santos is able to spin off the cage and lands a straight
left. Kuniev forces a tie-up and eats an uppercut for his efforts.
Kuniev attacks with a low kick and they clinch again in the center
of the Octagon. Kuniev shoves the Brazilian into the fence again,
and he’s urged by Smith to work. Kuniev gets a single leg, then
drags Santos down with a body-lock takedown. Kuniev is in half
guard, and Santos uses a kimura to forces a scramble. They stand
and Santos jams a knee into the gut of the Russian. Kuniev clinches
and shoves Santos into the cage again. The round ends this way,
with both men landing moderate punches against the cage.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kuniev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kuniev

Round 2

Kuniev with a trio of kicks to open the round, and Santos answers
with a strong inside leg kick. Kuniev connects with another leg
kick, then uses a pair of overhand rights to punch his way into the
clinch. Kuniev is back in a comfortable position, shoving his foe
into the cage. Kuniev with a short uppercut to the gut before they
break. Santos swings wildly but can’t connect. Kuniev punches his
way into the clinch and shoves Santos back into the fence. Santos
circles off and returns to the center of the cage. Kuniev sticks a
left jab and left hook before shoving the Brazilian back into the
fence. Santos creates a little room and lands an uppercut. Kuniev
grabs a single leg, picks Santos up and dumps him on the mat. After
a brief scramble, Kuniev is in side control. The Russian drops a
short elbow. Santos is looking for a kimura from his back as he did
in Round 1. Kuniev responds with a series of elbows to the ribs and
Santos lets it go. Kuniev continues to drop punches and elbows from
half guard as Santos tries to slide toward the fence. The Brazilian
sits up momentarily, but Kuniev forces him down and continues
dropping offense. Kuniev holds the neck and pummels Santos with a
right to the ribs. Santos stands and is muscled back down. More
punches and elbows land for Kuniev as Santos appears helpless to
end the round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Kuniev
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Kuniev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kuniev

Round 3

Kuniev is eager to begin the round, while Santos looks fatigued.
Kuniev uses a punching combination to close the distance and drive
Santos into the fence. From there, the Russian executes a body lock
takedown, slamming Santos down. Kuniev sets up in full guard of his
opponent. Kuniev alternates punches and elbows, and Smith is taking
a close look at this. The intensity of the assault increases, and Santos
rolls over and covers up. Finally, Smith has seen enough and halts
the bout.

The Official Result

Rizvan Kuniev def. Edivan Santos via TKO (Elbows and Punches) R3
1:00

Round 1

Almeida takes the center of the cage and leands a leg kick.
Zellhuber eludes a punching combination. Almeida stalks his foe and
makes Zellhuber buckle with a combination. Zellhuber is looking to
throw a lot of kicks, but Almeida is crowding him. Almeida unloads
with heavy hooks. Zellhuber halts the momentum of his foe by
securing a body lock and driving Almeida into the cage. Zellhuber
lands a shoulder strike, and Almeida answers with a knee. Almeida
seaprates and lands a hard one two. Almeida is relentless coming
forward with heavy punching combinations. Zellhuber is bleeding
form the noese, and he gets rocked by an overhand right. Almeida
forces the clinch, but Zellhuber turns him into the fence. Almeida
creates separation and continues to march forward behind heavy
hands. Zellhuber angles out of danger as Almeia continues his
assault. Zellhuber with a nice kick to the body. He counters
Almeida and circles off the fence. Almeida goes body-head and then
is sucked into the clinch, and Zellhuber presses him into the
fence. They break and Zellhuber lands a knee to the body. Zellhuber
lands another hard body kick, then sticks Almeida with his jab.
Another heavy combination for Almeida, but Zellhuber fires back
this time. Almeida lands one more combination before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Almeida

Round 2

Both men wing right hands early. They trade, but its Almeida who
digs a combination to the body before they clinch. Zellhuber turns
Almeida to the cage and then executes a beautiful hip toss to land
in side control. He moves to half guard. He controls Almeida’s
wrist and lands a series of right hands from above. Almeida
recovers full guard. Almeida scrambles uo and Zellhuber shoots
again immediately against the fence. Zellhuber relents and they
return to the center of the cage. Almeida wings another combination
but whiffs on it. Zellhuber lands a straight right followed by a
kick to the body. Zellhuber lands a lead hook then angles out. A
straight right connects for Almeida. Zellhuber sticks a couple
jabs, then lands an inside leg kick. Zellhuber is controlling the
cage now, backing Almeida into the fence. Zellhuber dictates the
range as the pace has slowed. Almeida just misses a big right hand.
Zellhuber lands a combination while moving his head to avoid his
foe’s counters. Zellhuber lands a head kick and Almeida shakes it
off as he backs up. Almedia closes the distance but Zellhuber turns
him into the fence in the clinch. Zellhuber drops low, looking for
the takedown, and Almeida lands some elbows to the side of the
head. They scramble up and Zellhuber taunts Almeida with his hands
at his side before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber

Round 3

Zellhuber sticks his jab, and Almeida is swinging and missing in
response. A body kick connecgts for Zellhuber. A low kick makes
Almeida stumble away briefly. Almeida lands a right followed by an
inside leg kick. Zellhuber connects a body kick but it’s caught.
They trade against the fence, but it’s Zellhuber teeing off with
combinations, while moving his head nicely. Zellhuber with a long
sraight right hand. Zellhuber backs up his foe with a front kick
and a low kick. Almieda’s output has dropped dramatically, and
Zellhuber is yelling at him to come forward. A glancing high kick
lands for Zellhuber, but Almeida responds with a body kick.
Zellhuber lands a left hook and angles out of the pocket. Zellhuber
keeps the pressure on with a straight right and front kick. Almeida
does his best to force the issue, but Zellhuber drives him back
with a push kick. Almeida rushes forward but Zellhuber utilizes
excellent head movement to avoid the assault. Another check hook
lands for Zellhuber, who deftly eludes his adversary. Zellhuber
sticks a couple more jabs before they tie up. Almeida shoves his
man into the fence as time winds down. The fight ends in the
clinch.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber (29-28
Zellhuber)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber (29-28 Zellhuber)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber (29-28 Zellhuber)

The Official Result

Daniel Zellhuber def. Lucas Almeida via Unanimous Decision (29-28,
29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Round 1

Borralho flicks out several kicks using a karate southpaw stance.
Jeffery slams a right hand into Barralho’s mug. Jeffery looks ot
close the distace, and Borralho circles out and lands a body kick.
A jab connects for the Brazilian. Jeffrey closes the distance and
forces the clinch against the fence. Borralho circles off and spins
off. He hits Jeffrey with a clean right hook. Jeffrey presses his
man into the cage once again. Jeffrey stays busy with knees from
this position. Borralho turns Jeffrey into the fence and eventually
separates. Borralho lands a glancing jump knee and then tags
Jeffrey with a few punches as his opponent moves forward. Borralho
lands an inside low kick. The Brazilian steps in with a head kick
and Jeffrey just gets his hand in to block it. Another left high
kick partially lands for Borralho. Jeffrey punches his way into the
clinch before the end of the frame.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Borralho
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Borralho
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Borralho

Round 2

Borralho explodes for a takedown at the outset of the round.
Borralho transitions to a rear-body lock as Jeffrey stands up.
Borralho gives Jeffrey space and they’re back to the center.
Jeffrey pushes forward and just misses getting hit by a flying
knee. They’re back in the clinch, with Jeffrey in control. They
separate and Jeffrey lands a short standing elbow. Jeffrey again
forces the clinch behind a right hand. They clinch, and both men
are landing strikes in this position. Borralho digs for underhooks
while landing knees and short punches with his back to the fence.
Borralho executes a hip toss and then works to Jeffrey’s back as
his foe stands. They separate again and Borralho sticks a counter
right before Jeffrey shoves him into the fence. Jeffrey briefly
lifts Borralho up but can’t complete the takedown. Jeffrey lands a
knee to the body and more knees to the thighs. They’re still tied
up and Jeffrey maintains the position, with Borralho against the
fence. Borralho turns Jeffrey into the cage just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Borralho
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Borralho
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Borralho

Round 3

Jeffrey immediately forces the clinch and drives the Brazlian into
the cage. Jeffery applies pressure with his head while staying
moderately busy with knees and short punches. They separate, and
Borralho lands a counter right hand. Jeffrey continues to move
forward, and he again shoves Borralho into the fence, where he
lands a right to the head. An elbow over the top lands for Jeffrey,
and he’s punching the body before Borralho reverses for a takedown.
Jeffrey is up, with Borralho shoving his back into the fence. The
clinch battle continues as we’re at the halfway point, and Jeffrey
reverses position before separating. Jeffrey lands a pair of rights
in close quarters before pushing Borralho into the cage. Jeffrey
creates space to land more punches, but Borralho turns him back
into the cage and connects with a knee. The clinch war continues,
and Jeffrey reverses position before they breeak free again. A
straight right lands before Jeffrey presures forward. Jeffrey
throws three elbows from the clinch, and Borralho answers with an
elbow of his own. Jeffrey wades back into the clinch just as the
horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jeffrey (29-28
Borralho)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Jeffrey (29-28 Borralho)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jeffrey (29-28 Borralho)

The Official Result

Caio Borralho def. Aaron Jeffrey via Unanimous Decision (29-28,
29-28, 30-27) R3 5:00